Obesity
Goals
By 2029, reduce the proportion of adults with obesity below the HP2030 target of 31.0% (baseline 32.2%).
By 2029, reduce the percent of children and adolescents (ages 10–17) with obesity below the HP2030 target of 14.5% (baseline 14.9%).
Obesity affects an estimated 40% of adults in the United States. Obesity is linked to physical, metabolic, and psychological health and is a chronic disease. Obesity disproportionately affects certain groups. Factors such as age, educational attainment and household income can influence prevalence.1
Diets high in fruits and vegetables reduce the risk of many chronic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and stroke. Barriers to regular consumption of fruits and vegetables include access to fresh produce, cost, perceived lack of preparation time, and cooking knowledge.
According to the World Health Organization, physical inactivity is one of the leading risk factors for non-communicable disease mortality among adults. Physical activity can lower the risk of premature death, disability, heart disease, cancer, stroke, high blood pressure, and other chronic health conditions.
The percentage of adults in Virginia who are overweight or obese slightly increased from 2016 (65.4%) to 2021 (68.1%). In 2021, 34.0% of adults in Virginia were obese which met the HP 2030 target of reducing the proportion of adults with obesity to less than 36%.
Strategies
Promote the adoption of food service/nutrition standards in schools and worksites. Promote healthy eating via incentives in employer wellness programs. Implement policies and practices that create a supportive nutrition environment.Strategies
Million Hearts® is a national initiative to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes within 5 years. It focuses on implementing a small set of evidence-based priorities and targets that can improve cardiovascular health for all.
Increase community education and awareness about healthy and active living through community education and communication strategies such as newsletters.
Encourage adoption of community designs that support active living.
Increase the number of evidence-based employee wellness programs to include opportunities for fitness classes during the workday.
Strategies
Increase the proportion of eligible Virginians that complete a CDC recognized type 2 diabetes prevention program.
Engage Community Health Workers to connect underserved communities to health care systems and diabetes prevention programs.
Walk With Ease Program is a community-based physical activity and self-management education program. While walking is the central activity, Walk With Ease is a multi-component program that also includes health education, stretching and strengthening exercises, and motivational strategies. The program includes a guidebook and a walking schedule to get you safely moving toward better health.
Promote the adoption of multi-component physical education policies for schools.
Provide exercise and physical activities at senior and community centers.
Strategies
Identify and promote programs and policies to increase physical activity among Virginians.
Assist communities in establishing walking groups and walk-friendly communities.
Partner with organizations and departments to offer free physical activities in rural communities.
Create a statewide physical resource guide for rural communities.
Collaborate with partners to install outdoor exercise equipment in at least one public park in a low socioeconomic area.
Strategies
Increase the number of schools that incorporate education for safe walking and biking by partnering with walking/biking organizations to bring programming to schools.
Develop campaign to promote less screen time and more physical activity.
Develop family-based exercise programs that encourage families to move together.
Develop virtual exercise programs where youth/families can exercise from their homes with a virtual coach or group.
Promote the adoption of recess policies for schools.
Reduce social media use by adolescents.